Fairy Trail Hike at Oso Creek in Mission Viejo

It was an artistic and miniature fantasyland brought to you by the same Fairyologist who created the Aliso Summit Fairy Trail. You may have read my posts about the Oso Viejo Community Park Playground and the Oso Creek Trailon this blog. In both of those posts, I have you access the trail from the playground since there is a path leading down to the creek from there.

However, if your primary purpose is the Fairy Trail, you may want to park in the lower lot leading to the Potocki Center for the Arts to begin at the start of the Fairy Trail. There really aren’t rules on how to explore the trail, but I think it might be more fun to start at the beginning and end with a romp at the awesome double-tunnel-slide playground. There are complimentary fairy maps at the Potocki Center.

For the November/December 2018 return of the Fairy Trail (with seasonal enhancements) — 30 of the houses are up in the courtyard of the Potocki Center with about 15 down on the lower trail.

Directions to the Fairy Trail in Mission Viejo: From the 5 Freeway, take the La Paz exit and head east past Marguerite Parkway. Make a left just past Marguerite into the parking lot past the stores, across the creek, on your left. MAP TO THE FAIRY TRAIL HIKE AT OSO CREEK IN MISSION VIEJO

We visited about an hour before sunset when the day was cooling off. I think my daughter may have caught a photo of fairies flying!

Although other local bloggers jumped right in, I hesitated to cover the original Aliso Summit version of this trail because I didn’t know if it was sanctioned by the entities that managed the site — or how long it would be around — or even who was responsible. Who could have predicted the Fairy Trail’s popularity? Who could have predicted a little kindness and caring would draw people to it in droves? I mean, I even spotted coverage of the trail on the Atlas Obscura website! Wow.

I’m exceedingly happy to support both the Fairyologist and this new iteration of the Fairy Trail hike at Oso Creek Trail in Mission Viejo. Andreas Frank and I hit it off right away on the phone. He’s doing this for all the right reasons – inspiring art in our youth and generating interest in the cultural arts in our community. And, in my opinion, infusing a little imagination and wonder into our everyday lives.

Now this Fairy Trail in Mission Viejo has the parking and infrastructure to support visitors to this magical land — plus the added support and permission of the Mission Viejo arts community. This spot is so perfect! Although it’s inside a manicured and maintained city park area — it feels very wild and mysterious when you are on the trail and see fairy homes hiding in the forest around you. The fairies spent their first summer here in Summer 2018 and they are back for November and December 2018 for their winter holiday.

It’s also very near the new Potocki Center for the Arts in Mission Viejo (former home of World Cup & Women’s Soccer). I’m happy to say that the fairies have been invited back for another season. Fairy home and garden workshops will be offered at the Potocki Center for the Arts continue through the fall, with special fairy-themed workshops for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

3 Ways to Show Your Love for the Fairy Trail

Mission Viejo needs to know how much you love this trail and want to see it stick around. If you love it, you should be able to contribute one of the following . . .

Respect the Trail and Give It a Voice

Visit often and be respectful to maintain the Fairy Trail for other visitors

Use the Fairy Trail for art inspiration at home (photographs, creative writing, artwork in any medium) to SHOW how it inspires you and then share with the Caring Fairies.

Send the Caring Fairies your mail! Whether you choose to send an email or leave your letters and artwork – or even your fairy questions . . . your delivery will be received with gratitude. First of all, it’s nice to know that all the hard work is making a positive difference for you & your family. It’s also a concrete and quantifiable illustration of your support. The email address is caringfairies [at] gmail [dot] com and there is a Fairy Mail box in the Potocki Center.

Contribute Time

Especially tweens and teens who want to keep the fairy stories going for the younger visitors. There will be trainings for volunteers armed with Fairy First Aid kits to go out and keep the trail maintained. Again, make contact with the Caring Fairies via email.

Learn More About the Potocki Center for the Arts Mission Viejo

I’m a frequent visitor to Mission Viejo’s Library where I always look forward to seeing what art installation is being displayed by local students and artists. So it’s not new for me to associate the city with art. Many of the artists that used to provide classes at the Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center are now based in the Potocki Center. This video from the City is an awesome introduction to what the center is all about. Become acquainted with Mission Viejo’s Friends of the Arts Committee which was instrumental in allowing the fairies to return to Orange County. Thank you!

The perfect opportunity to visit and learn about the Potocki Center for the Arts is Mission Viejo’s Arts Alive & Street Painting Festival which usually occurs in April.

Checklist:

Parking is free. If there is no parking in the lower lot, try the upper lot — or move to the playground or Village Green parking lots.

There are no restrooms along the trail, but there are restrooms at the playground.

The Oso Creek Trail is stroller-friendly, but the Fairy Trail goes off pavement.